The Ayn Rand Institute’s Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest offers a unique platform for students to engage deeply with literature and philosophy. The deadline is August 1, 2025.
The astounding story of a man who said that he would stop the motor of the world—and did.
Tremendous in scope, breathtaking in its suspense, Atlas Shrugged is unlike any other book you have ever read. It is a mystery story, not about the murder of a man’s body, but about the murder—and rebirth—of man’s spirit.
For nearly four decades, the Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual student essay contests on Ayn Rand’s novels. These contests encourage students to seriously engage with Rand’s ideas through reflection on her profound and influential novels. Students who participate will need to read the book they have selected carefully, grapple with its complex themes, and push the boundaries of their writing ability. By doing so, we hope students will achieve a deeper appreciation for Rand’s literary works and develop a curiosity for the philosophy that underlies them.
The contest is open to middle and high school students worldwide, aged 13 and older. Students can enter by submitting an essay based on the provided prompt related to Ayn Rand’s novel, “The Atlas Shrugged.”
Interested participants can register through this link.
The deadline for submission is August 1, 2025.
Click here for the official notification of the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest.
